The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 253
by the poll in the beginning of a great war; and ceive an honourable opinion of the justice of
afterwards again at the ending, there sometimes England.
wanted a third part of the number: but let our Now to the points of levies and distributions
muster-books be perused, those, I say, that certify of money, which he calleth exactions. First, very
the number of all fighting imen in every shire, of coldly, lie is not abashed to bring in the gathering
"4vicesimo" of the queen; at what time, except for Paul's steeple and the lottery trifles; whereof
a handful of soldiers in the Low Countries, we the former, being but a voluntary collection of
expended no men in the wars; and now again, at that men were freely disposed to give, never grew
this present time, and there will appear small to so great a sum as was sufficient to finish the
diminution. There be many tokens in this realm work for which it was appointed: and so, I imarather of press and surcharge of people, than of gine, it was converted into some other use; like
want and depopulation, which were before recited. to that gathering which was for the fortifications
Besides, it is a better condition of inward peace of Paris; save that the gathering for Paris came
to be accompanied with some exercise of no dan- to a much greater, though, as I have heard, no
gerous war in foreign parts, than to be utterly competent sum. And, for the lottery, it was but
without apprentisage of war, whereby people a novelty devised and followed by some particugrow effeminate and unpractised when occasion lar persons, and only allowed by the state, being
shall be. And it is no small strength unto the as a gain of hazard: wherein if any gain was, it
realm, that in these wars of exercise and not of was because many men thought scorn, after they
peril, so many of our people are trained, and so had fallen from their greater hopes, to fetch their
nany of our nobility and gentlemen have been odd money. Then he mentioneth loans and privy
made excellent leaders both by sea and land. As seals: wherein he showeth great ignorance and
for that he objecteth, we have no provision for indiscretion, considering the payments back again
soldiers at their return; though that point hath have been very good and certain, and much for
not been altogether neglected, yet I wish with all her majesty's honour. Indeed, in other princes'
my heart, that it were more ample than it is; times it was not wont to be so. And, therefore,
though I have read and heard, that in all estates, though the name be not so pleasant, yet the use
upon cashiering and disbanding of soldiers, many of them in our times have been with small grievhave endured necessity. ance. He reckoneth also new customs upon
For the stopping of traffic, as I referred myself cloths, and new impost upon wines. In that of
to the muster-books for the first, so I refer myself cloths, he is deceived; for the ancient rate of
to the custom-books upon this, which will not lie, custom upon cloths was not raised by her majesty,
and do make demonstration of no abatement at all but by Queen Mary, a Catholic queen: and hath
in these last years, but rather of rising and in- been commonly continued by her majesty, except
crease. We know of many in London and other he mean the computation of the odd yards, which
places that are within a small time greatly come in strict duty was ever answerable, though the
up and made rich by merchandising: and a man error were but lately looked into, or rather the
may speak within his compass, and affirm, that toleration taken away. And to that of wines,
our prizes by sea have countervailed any prizes being a foreign merchandise, and but a delicacy,
upon us. and of those which might be forborne, there bath
And, as to the justice of this realm, it is true, been some increase of imposition, which can
that cunning and wealth have bred many suits rather make the price of wine higher, than the
and debates in law. But let those points be con- merchant poorer. Lastly, touching the number
sidered: the integrity and sufficiency of those of subsidies, it is true, that her majesty, in respect
which supply the judicial places in the queen's of the great charges of her wars, both by sea and
courts; the good laws that have been made in land, against such alord of treasure as is the King
her majesty's time against informers and pro- of Spain; having for her part no Indies nor mines,
meoters, and for the bettering of trials; the example and the revenues of the crown of England being
of severity which is used in the Star Chamber, in such, as they less grate upon the people than the
oppressing forces and frauds; the diligence and revenues of any crown or state in Europe, hath,
stoutness that is used by justices of assizes, in by the assent of parliament, according to the
encountering all countenancing and bearing of ancient customs of this realm, received divers
causes in the country, by their authorities and subsidies of her people, which, as they have been
wisdom; the great favours that have been used employed upon the defence and preservation of
towartdscopyholders and customary tenants, which the subject, not upon excessive buildings, nor
were in ancient times merely at the discretion upon immoderate donatives, nor upon triumphs
arid mercy of the lord, and are now continually and pleasures; or any the like veins of dissiparelieved from hard dealing, in chancery and other tion of treasure, which have been familiar to
courts of equity: I say, let these and many other many kings: so have they been yielded with
points be considered, and men will worthily con- great good-will and cheerfulness, as may appear
Y